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Best of Recently Read by Staff

Our favorite picks are listed below:

Saga by Brian Vaughn. Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Written by a best selling author, this graphic novel series is "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make."

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley.The first time Julia asy Greywethers she was only five, but she knew it was her house. And now that she's at last become its owner, she suspects that she was drawn there for a reason.

Forgotten Country by Catherine Chung. On the night Janie waits for her sister, Hannah to be born, her grandmother tells her a story: Since the Japanese occupation of Korea, their family has lost a daughter each generation, so Janie is charged with keeping Hannah safe.

In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols. The chief of police in a small town becomes suspicious of the new woman in town, Miranda. He discovers she has no history, then he finds a baby picture of his niece in her possession...

Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us by Seth Godin. A tribe is any group of people who are connected to one another, a leader and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes. The Internet and social media are making it easier to make connections, but who is going to lead us?

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. He is down to one client and creditors are calling. He has broken up with his girlfriend and living in his office. Then he learns his sister, the legendary supermodel, known to friends as the Cuckoo, has fallen to her death.

The Ocean At the End Of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole thier car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from the world are on the loose...

Among Others by Jo Walton.Startling, unusual, and irresistibly readable, this is the compelling story of a young woman struggling to escape a troubled childhood. A brilliant diary of first encounters with great novels of modern fantasy and sci-fi and a spellbinding tale of escape from ancient enchantment.

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout.Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children. Jim and Bod Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown of Shirley Falls for New York City as soon as they possibly could.Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld. From an early age, Kate and her identical twin sister Violet knew they were unlike everyone else. They were born with peculiar 'senses'-innate psychic abilities concerning future events. Though Vi embraced her visions, Kate did her best to hide them...

The Blood Gospel by J. Rollins & R. Cantrell. Really liked this one. If you like Dan Brown, you will like this.

View From Penthouse B by Elinor Lipman. Interesting characters and lots of humor. A very enjoyable read.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Jacob V. says, "A very slow read at first; however, with each page, I'm starting to see why this book is held in such high regard!"

Elephant Run by Roland Smith. This is a historic adventure in the jungles of Burma that explores the events of the WWII Japanese invasion and fascinating facts about wild timber elephants.

Somebody's Daughter by Julian Shen. An eye-opening tale of the reality of sex trafficking in America.

Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses by Sarah Gristwood. "While the events of the War of the Roses are usually described in terms of the male leads who fought and died seeking the throne, a handful of powerful women would prove just as decisive as their relatives clashing armies. These mothers, wives, and daughters were locked in a web of loyalty and betrayal that would ultimately change the course of history."-Amazon

The Last Policeman by Ben Winters. If the world as you knew it was going to end, how would your life change? This is the situation faced by Hank, a small-town policeman trying to solve a murder as the rest of society prepares for a comet to strike Earth. Some people drop everything and pack in as much of the good life as they can; others prepare for the worst, everyone thinks Hank is crazy to try and solve the murder. This is a gripping and creative murder mystery.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Fowler. "Fowler renders rich period detail in this portrayal of a fascinating woman both blessed-and cursed-by fame." - Booklist

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers. The novel opens in 2004, when two soldiers, meet in boot camp on the eve of their departure to Iraq. The older of the two takes the younger under his wing, bound by the promise to his mother to guide the younger man home safely.

The Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey Delve into some great post-apocolyptic fiction with realistic characters and a tense social setting. The story is set in an underground silo where a small community has been living for years. Everything changes when their leader decides to break the rules and go outside.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Delve into some classic Dickens for a great plot, memorable characters (with fantastic names!) and beautiful language.

My American Unhappiness by Dean Bakopoulos . The main character in this novel spends his time documenting why people are unhappy, while remaining blythly upbeat and detached from the ridiculous situations in his own life. Recommended for those who like quirky characters, dark comedy, and humorous social commentary.

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini. The author describes the true story of Mary Todd Lincoln and her lasting friendship with her seamstress, Lizzy Keckley, a former slave. Recommended for lovers of historical fiction, anything Lincoln, or fans of Jennifer Chiaverini.

How It All Began by Penelope Lively. The author explores how small, random events can alter the paths of our lives and how intertwined we truly are.

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. It's been 50 (!) years since this book was published. Sadly, many of the topics discussed by Ms. Friedan are still with us today. The writing is still fresh, sometimes funny, and relevant to nearly all social interactions. Recommended for anyone who hasn't read it, or for those who haven't read it in 50 years.

A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn. Chet and Bernie save the day once again. Chet, the dog narrator, manages to be true to his nature, but not too sappy, in this quirky mystery series. A perfect read for anyone who has a goofy dog.

Backyard Parables by Mararet Roach. Gardening from the head and the heart. There are garden lessons here, but also a few about life and how to live well. Recommended for gardeners and anyone who wants a bit of calm in their lives.

The Diviners by Rick Moody Young Evie has been sent to live with her uncle in New York and soon finds glamour. The only catch is that her uncle is the curator of the "The Museum of the Creepy Cawlies." When a rash of occult based murders begins, Evie and her uncle are in the thick of the investigation.

The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell A woman has vanished while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada. Somehow, the only evidence has made it's way to the inbox of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, 2000 miles away.

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon As the summer of 2004 draws to a close, Archy and Nat are still hanging in there - longtime friends, bandmates and co-regents of Brokeland Records, a kingdom of used vinyl located in the borderlands of Bereley and Oakland.

Tales of the Otori Book 1 by Lian Hearn. In his fortress, a warloar surveys his famous nightingale floor. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. No assassin can cross it unheard...